Cover plate for fluid nozzles and the like

Abstract

A readily snap-fitted and removable cover plate, for covering the outwardly-facing or exposed surface of a fluid nozzle body flange, includes a body portion for covering such flange, and tabs projecting from segments of the body portion, movable into and out of alignment with portions of the flange defining an opening therethrough, so as to be retained in or released from engagement with the flange. Spring loading biases the cover plate projecting tabs against the flange to retain engagement of the cover plate with the flange. The cover plate exposed surface has a finish different from the finish of the exposed surface of the flange, which cover plate finish may be selected so as to coordinate with the finish of other fittings in the bathroom.

I claim: 
     
       1. A plate for covering the outwardly-facing face portion of a flange at an outer end of a fluid nozzle body adapted to be mounted in a bathtub wall, which flange face portion has a finish thereon, and for enabling a change, to a different finish, of the finish of the flange face portion, which flange further includes portions defining an opening therein, and an inner surface thereof, which cover plate is adapted to be movable into and out of alignment with the opening-defining portions of the flange, and to be freely rotable into and out of engagement with, and positions relative to, the inner surface of the flange, so as to be retained in or released from engagement with, and freely rotatable into and out of positions relative to, the flange, comprising: (a) a body portion, adapted to interfit in the opening in the flange and cover the face portion of the flange, including an outwardly-facing portion having a shape generally complementary to the shape of the face portion of the flange, the finish of which outwardly-facing portion of the plate is different from the finish of the face portion of the flange, and portions defining an opening having a shape generally complementary to the shape of the opening in the flange, the body portion being adapted to be movable, and freely rotatable, into and out of positions relative to the flange; and   (b) a retainer portion, which projects from the rearmost part of the opening-defining portions of the body portion, in a plane generally transverse to the axis of such opening-defining portions of the body portion, the retainer portion having a shape generally complementary to the shape of the opening-defining portions of the flange, which retainer portion is adapted to be movable into and out of alignment with the opening-defining portions of the flange, and to be freely rotatable into and out of positions of abutment with the inner surface of the flange, so as to be retained in or released from engagement with, and to be freely rotatable in relation to, the inner surface of the flange.   
     
     
       2. A cover plate as in claim 1, in which part of the opening-defining portions of the flange defines a keyway passage which communicates with other parts of the opening-defining portions of the flange, and in which the retainer portion of the cover plate has a shape generally complementary to the shape of the keyway passage part of the flange. 
     
     
       3. A cover plate as in claim 1, in which the opening-defining portion of the body portion comprises a generally tubular shaped portion including a rim at the rearmost part thereof, and the retainer portion comprises a tab outstruck from the rim of the body portion. 
     
     
       4. A cover plate as in claim 2, in which the keyway passage part of the opening-defining portions of the flange defines a plurality of keyway passages, each of which communicates with other parts of the opening in the flange, and in which the retainer portion of the cover plate comprises a plurality of retainer portions, each of which has a shape generally complementary to the shape of each of the plurality of keyway passages in the flange. 
     
     
       5. A cover plate as in claim 3, in which the retainer portion comprises a plurality of tabs, each outstruck from the rim of the body portion. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for enabling a change, to a different finish, of the finish of the outwardly-facing portion of a fluid nozzle body adapted to be mounted in the wall of a bathtub, comprising: (a) a flange, at the outer end of the fluid nozzle body, including a face portion facing outwardly therefrom which includes a finish thereon, and further including portions defining an opening therethrough, and an engagable inner surface thereof; and   (b) a plate, for covering the face portion of the flange, adapted to be movable into and out of alignment with the opening-defining portions of the flange, and to be freely rotatable, into and out of engagement with, and positions relative to, the inner surface of the flange, so as to be retained in or release from engagement with, and to be freely rotatable in relation to, the flange, which plate includes an outwardly-facing portion thereof, of a finish different from the finish of the face portion of the flange.